What Lies Between Us

Product Information

Written from the perspective of our leads, John at times leaves us heart wrenching for their plight, and at times wondering what despicable act will come next.

To say that its heartbreaking and disturbing , such a sad, sad story somehow doesn't seem adequate but it is definitively a beautifully written one that I won't forget about . There is mystery and intrigue throughout and we gradually learn the horrors of what has been covered up and the lengths that some people will go to to exact mistaken revenge.I don’t know if it’s because I’m not (yet) a mother, but Maggie’s action as a mum to Nina didn’t make sense to me at all. At first I questioned the reason for this shocking opening but the author does explain , “it tells us everything we need to know about the nature of love between a mother and a child. Lulled by lyrical descriptive prose into this dreamy, idyllic childhood, albeit with somewhat detached parents, there develops a feeling of something being not quite right, the child's perspective clouds reality, something haunts her and the reader, a sense of unease. It isn’t unusual to come upon a flash of silver and gold, a koi flapping on the wet grass, swept out of the pond by the onslaught of rain.

It has rooms full of ebony furniture, polished red wax floors, white latticework which drips from the eaves like lace and dark wooden steps that lead to my little bedroom upstairs. In the middle of my reading I found myself acting like Regan from Exorcist making spider walk, climbing backwards from the stairs and my head spinning.No one condones violence against a child but here we get a glimpse into a tortured mind and see why she may have done what she did. The narrator (mostly unnamed) was also not always the most likable character but the writing was something to behold. Instead of getting Nina the help she needs, Maggie just lets her be without really letting her have a life. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there.

We get the juicy backstory starting from twenty five years ago which gives us a firsthand look into their disturbing thought processes and what motivates and drives them. It is not always easy to read a book like this, where the emotions and agony of the narrator feels so upfront and personal. John Marr unpacks his characters slowly, and doesn't mind if we don't like them because he'll ensure we understand them in the final act.

Love some of John Marrs books - adore Elizabeth Knowelden but oh dearie dear dear dear that old lady character voice made me abandon this book in seconds - nails on a blackboard - I could not stand to listen any longer - maybe one for me to read rather than listen to. With a practical understanding of contributing ideologies -- like white supremacy, meritocracy, colorblindness -- and interpersonal and systemic dynamics — like unconscious bias, and power and privilege — you will have a broadened awareness of yourselves, “others,” and our interconnected society.